Safaricom Announces Fuliza Service Disruption For One Hour
However, other M-PESA services will run normally.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Safaricom has warned M-PESA users to brace for a brief Fuliza disruption next week as the telco rolls out a late-night system upgrade expected to sharpen the overdraft service’s reliability.
In a notice issued to customers on Saturday, November 15, the company said the Fuliza platform will undergo scheduled maintenance on Monday, November 17, 2025, between 1:00 am and 2:00 am.
This will be a one-hour window where access to the service may be shaky or completely unavailable. However, other M-PESA services will run normally.
"We are continually improving our platform to enhance our services, connecting you, our customers, with more innovations and an even better experience.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa during a past meeting. /SWALA NYETI
"To support this and meet our promise to offer always-on, safe, secure, and worry-free financial products and services, we will be conducting a scheduled system upgrade on the Fuliza Platform on Monday, 17th November 2025, from 0100 Hrs to 0200 Hrs," the statement read in part.
The telco insists the timing was chosen to minimise disruption, but users are already buzzing online, with many cautioning night shoppers, travellers, and emergency spenders to plan.
Safaricom has apologised for the inconvenience and thanked customers for their patience as it tunes up one of Kenya’s most-used digital credit tools.
"The timing of this maintenance activity has been planned to result in minimal inconvenience to our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience that may be caused and thank you for your continued support," added the statement.
How Fuliza Works
Fuliza is Safaricom’s always-on overdraft facility built into M-PESA, allowing customers to complete transactions even when their mobile money balances are running low.
Launched in 2019, the service quickly became one of Kenya’s most-used digital credit tools, stepping in as an instant buffer whenever users attempt payments, transfers, or Lipa na M-MPESA transactions without enough funds in their wallet.
Instead of declining the transaction, Fuliza automatically tops up the deficit, and the customer repays later once money flows back into their M-PESA account.
The service operates more like a short-term overdraft than a traditional loan. Users are charged daily fees and interest until the borrowed amount is cleared, a structure that has fuelled both widespread adoption and public debate.
Despite the criticism, Fuliza remains a lifeline for millions who rely on it for quick fixes—whether it’s topping up fare, clearing a bill, or paying for essentials when cash runs tight.
Fuliza is run through a partnership between Safaricom, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), and NCBA Bank, allowing the telco to offer digital credit backed by formal banking infrastructure. This setup has helped drive massive usage, with the platform processing billions of shillings in overdrafts every month and playing a central role in Kenya’s mobile-money economy.
In recent years, Safaricom has been under rising pressure to streamline costs for users, introduce more transparency, and strengthen consumer protections. System upgrades and policy reforms have been rolled out gradually to improve performance, reduce downtime, and keep the service stable as demand expands.
Recently, the telco shifted its M-PESA operations to a new Fintech 2.0 core system, a next-gen platform built to boost stability, handle heavier traffic, and support smarter, AI-powered features. The transition came as M-PESA usage continues to surge and customer habits continue to evolve.
